Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson wants the team's next quarterback to establish himself long-term.
The Vikings are set up for a heated quarterback battle featuring three former top-10 picks.
"The pieces that we have added this offseason, with the people we drafted, the people that we picked up in free agency, people we picked up [through] trades, it's just all about getting everybody on the same plan and on the same schedule, and just making sure we're ready for this upcoming season," Jefferson said.
"Of course having the quarterback situation involved, just trying to get with Kyler [Murray], trying to get with J.J. [McCarthy], to make sure that we're situated for this upcoming camp and for this upcoming season. I'm excited for this team, excited for everybody just to come together and try to figure this thing out."
The Vikings have set up an intense quarterback competition featuring three former top-10 picks. J.J. McCarthy—drafted 10th overall out of Michigan in the 2024 NFL Draft—missed his entire rookie season with an injury, then struggled mightily last season in the 10 games he started. He went 6–4 as a starter but completed just 140 of 243 passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Carson Wentz, drafted second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2016 Draft, signed with the team as McCarthy's backup late in the 2025 offseason. He started five games when McCarthy was injured, going 2-3 while passing for 1,216 yards and six TDs with five interceptions. He re-upped with the Vikings in 2026.
The Vikings also have second-year pro Max Brosmer on the roster. Brosmer impressed during the preseason and won a roster spot, but in two starts in relief of McCarthy, he also struggled. He finished 1–1, completing 47 of 71 passes for 328 yards and four interceptions.
So what is Jefferson looking for in the offseason program?
"Just competition, for real," he said. "Just to see, who's gonna be that last man standing, who's gonna be 'that dawg', who's gonna be that leader to carry us throughout the season? Because that is definitely a missing piece that we're looking for and something that is very important to our team, which is the quarterback spot.
"Just seeing that competition battle, seeing those guys come in every single day leading the team and trying to spark, especially the offense, it's definitely something I'm looking forward to. And just going out there and connecting with any quarterback that's going out there and throwing the ball, that's the main important thing this training camp."
The biggest thing Jefferson was looking for from this competition was continuity.
"It definitely will be great to have a quarterback, the same quarterback for these next couple years going down the line, but you already know that's something that's very difficult to do in this league," he confessed. "But for sure, to keep knowing that quarterback for these next couple of years and build that relationship and create that spark, that's definitely the plan."
From The Epoch Times